Page 22 of A Moment In Time

Gage ended the call and tossed his phone on the couch, then sat down and put his feet on the coffee table Rand had made from two pine rounds and a slab cut from the heart of a tree. It had been sanded smooth, then coated with resin.

It was official. He was going to be Calaway Crossing’s next mayor.

Gage headed into town at two. The auction started at three, and was followed by dinner for the bachelor with the woman who won the bid. There was also a dance afterwards, which was open to the public. But many of the couples went from dinner to the dance if all went well during their meal.

Gage wasn’t big on dancing, so he’d try to get out of going if he could. No matter who he ended up having dinner with.

When he arrived at the tavern, his mother was there setting things up. She had run the bachelor auction for over twenty years. Gage went to her, and she gave him a hug.

“Are you here to cover the auction? Or are you the one son who will participate this year?”

“Have I ever participated?”

“No. But a mother can dream. Rose has been trying to get Corbyn to get in on the action, but he says he’s too busy.”

“How busy can he be on a Sunday afternoon?” He kissed her on the cheek. “Actually, Mom, I’m going to enter the auction.”

“What? Oh my gosh. That’s wonderful. I’ve been trying to get you to join for twenty years now.”

“Twenty years ago I was nine.”

She patted his cheek. “You know what I mean.”

When she smiled at something behind him, he turned to see Corbyn approaching. He hugged Delaney. “Rose finally talked me into it.”

“I thought I wasn’t going to have any Calaways in the auction, and now I have two. This makes me so happy.”

Corbyn looked at Gage. “You’re entering?”

“Yeah.”

“You’ve never entered.”

“I know. I decided it was about time.”

Corbyn patted him on the back. “Okay. Let’s see who’s more popular.”

Gage laughed. “I already know. You are. You’re a doctor, for God’s sake. Doctor will always trump newspaper guy.”

“Newspaper editor.”

“Still.”

Corbyn looked at Delaney. “Mom, I’m going to buy my brother a drink to get him ready for the action.”

“Only one, please.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The two men left Delaney and went into the bar and took two stools. Paxton finished what he was doing and walked over to them.

“Are you here to watch? Or are you here to participate?”

Corbyn smiled. “We are both going on the auction block.”

Paxton laughed. “Alright. It’s about time. You’re the last two Calaway men standing.”

Rand came up behind them. “Excuse me. I think there are three single Calaway men still.”

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